This Week's Dinner Menu

Things seem to go so much better around here when I have a menu plan.  I don't know why I always fail so badly at planning meals.  Maybe it's because I grew up with the "wing it" plan and you always default to what you grew up with right?  Well, I am trying to do better at menu planning so here's my plan for this next week:

Sunday:  Chicken Enchiladas (my husband's favorite);  Refried Black Beans from this book.

Monday:  Leftovers

Tuesday:  Ham Stuffed French Rolls (also from the book above)  This is a new recipe to try.

Wednesday:  Ham & Macaroni Casserole (Lil Guhl's favorite); Green Beans

Thursday:  Leftovers

Friday:  Orange Chicken with Rice (Boyson's favorite);  Broccoli

Poisoned by the Pill: Truths about Chemical Contraception

I feel so compelled to pass this information along. Please read this article - it is so very important.

Poisoned by the Pill: Truths about Chemical Contraception

Screen Saver Party

The Clay Rosary Girl is hosting a "Screen Saver Party."

Just take a picture of your desk, just as it is right now, post it to your blog and link back to her blog.

So here's my desk, just as it is right now.  

The pic on my computer screen is of my husband and me on my 40th birthday.

7 Quick Takes Friday

1.

I have been a lame blogger; not that I was ever a great blogger.  Truthfully though, I have just not been in the mood to put out the effort it requires to do a blog post.  I can't promise that the next few weeks will be better, but I will try . . .  ho hum.

 

2.

I think part of the reason I have been a lame blogger is because of some school 'changes' I have been making.  It is mid-year, and that's always a good time to take stock of what is working and what is not and to look toward the future.  After much prayer and research, I have decided that Seton Home Study School is the curriculum of choice for me and the one that, for the most part, works for us.  So I have been spending a lot time evaluating where we are headed with that.  We have been "enrolled" with them in the past, but did not enroll for this school year, although we are using many of their books.  As a result of my efforts to "go it alone" I have felt all "over the place."  That's not a good match for my Type A personality.  So despite my reservations with their book reports, we are now going to be working on getting ready for 7th grade with Seton for Boyson.

3.

Yesterday, I cleaned out the pen/pencil holder that sits near the desk and counted 29 Sharpies.  What??  How did we get so many Sharpies?  They are all either red, blue, green or black.  I know my husband also has a stash of these out in the garage, so that count is actually more than 29.  I don't remember ever buying Sharpies.  They must be having babies.

4.

I am discovering that it is easier to try to lose weight when your husband is on the same mission.  Who knows - maybe we'll have a little healthy competition in the form of "The Biggest Loser."

5.

We have given up on our Roohen.  Long story short:  one of our older hens never acclimated to our new flock last spring.  When we separated her for being so mean, she started to crow on occasion, albeit a very weak crow.  She also has never laid eggs, but she doesn't really look like a rooster.  So we don't really know her gender - thus her designation as a Roohen.  Anyways, we have tried to re-introduce her back into the flock a few times now, and she is just not nice.  So I don't know her fate just yet, but I think she is not long for living here.  It is sad, because as far as looks, she has always been my favorite.

6.

Tomorrow is Boyson's state competition for his Lego Robotics Club.  It will be a fun day - and we're just in it for the learning experience (although we said that last time and look what happened!)

7.

I haven't been on Facebook for over two weeks - and I think know I am better off for it!

Visit Conversion Diary here.

My Daybook - January 3, 2011

Outside my window...  cold, cold, cold.  Today the temp got up to about 41, up from yesterday's 37.  We've been in the low 20's at night.  It's been dry.  The cold weather is a lot of work when you have animals. 

I am thankful for...  heat.

I am thinking... a lot about the future of our homeschooling.  I have been praying a lot too.  I don't have any answers yet.  I am lacking confidence for the middle school/high school years that we are heading into next year.  I am very intimidated by curriculum choices that seem so lofty, and can't seem to find something that's a good fit.  I know I can't go it alone or plan my own - that's just way more than I want to or feel able to do.  Plus, it will be our TENTH year of homeschooling and I am worn out.  So I am just thinking and praying for right now.


From the school room... we've had a three week break - I really needed it!  But we are back to school today.  The day went well, although it was a bit long (Boyson didn't finish until almost 3:00).  I threw a few new things into the mix in the hopes that it will liven things up a bit.

From the kitchen... a couple of things on my plan for the next week or so:  Cornish Game Hens with Lime Glaze (in the slow-cooker), a ham, and then split-pea soup.

I am wearing... khaki slacks, a burgundy t-shirt, and my black Columbia fleece, and slippers.

I am creating... I actually got out my embroidery floss and am working on putting two of these 59 Chickens onto a towel for my kitchen.

I am going... to work on losing some weight.  Ideally, I would like to lose 20 lbs.  But it's a daunting task for me; you see, I love to eat.  I enjoy food.  But I haven't been happy in my skin for a very long time, and seeing as how I turned 40 in December, it's time.  I really need to get this done.

I am reading... nothing right now.  I also did not get my book club book read in time for book club tomorrow night.

I am hoping... to spend less time on the computer, namely:  Facebook.  Okay, and this bothers me:  did you know that you can't delete your Facebook account?  That you can only deactivate it?  So all that "stuff" is stored out there somewhere in cyberworld  forever.  I guess somehow I knew that, but I didn't really know it.

I am hearing... the TV.

Around the house... many bags and small furniture items went to Goodwill this past week as I did some major purging.  I cleaned out a bunch of school stuff, some old knick-knacks that I no longer care for, clothes, old toys - you know, the usual list.  Ahhhh - it feels so good!  I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions, but I am going to try really hard to not let some of this frivolous junk into the house.

One of my favorite things... Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Counter Top Spray in Geranium Scent.  Love it! Love it!  Love it!  Especially in the middle of winter - it's like spring time came right into the house.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

• Book Club for me
• Little Flowers for Lil Guhl
• Lego Robotics for Boyson

 Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 

Lil Guhl and I did some major cleaning and reorganizing of her room.  We still have a bit more to do, but it sure looks a whole bunch tidier than it did.


For more daybooks, go here.